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Congratulations Bob Wilson!! you have won

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by DaveinOlyWA, Feb 28, 2012.

  1. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    11 people like this.
  2. RaZa

    RaZa Member

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    removed
     
  3. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    oo backup cameras
    i was expecting the EV sound that nobody wanted....
     
  4. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    Bob was one of the earliest members here who preached INCESSANTLY over the need to incorporate backup cameras in all cars to prevent accidents.

    he was a "bit" over the top in his postings but he was an engineer that contributed a TON of valuable information on this site.
     
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Bob was an advocate for car safety and a great contributor to the forum before he left. He is a great guy. :)
     
  6. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I think it's a fantastic idea. How dreadful to reverse over your own kid, despite thinking you've taken precautions. The article quotes an additional $200 per vehicle but this is way over the top - cameras are $5 and lcd displays are already there and if not, they're $30 top.

    Great idea, useful and also great from a safety point of view too. Hope we get the same requirement introduced here.
     
  7. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i think safety is paramount of course, but it has allowed me SEVERAL other things including avoiding having to clean the garage. with the backup camera i can literally shoehorn the car into a very small space!!
     
  8. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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  9. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    well for charts, graphs and a very clear technical evaluation, he was the Man!@!
     
  10. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    On one hand I'm perfectly fine with a regulation like this - with aerodynamics getting more and more important the view out the back will just get worse over time. Even without the regulation it seems that most cars would have a suitable screen as part of the car stereo and adding the wiring and camera should be easy and cheep enough. Toss in the streamlining that will happen during manufacturing as all cars will be wired it seems like the actual cost to the car companies will be quite a bit less than the article stated. I though it funny that it stated that some of the cost would be borne by consumers - of course all of it will!

    The only issue that I have with this is that it will not solve the root problem in many of these incidents - stupid and careless drivers. A couple of years back I pulled into a parking lot as the middle car in a 3 car string. In front of me was a guy in a work pickup - he slowed and slammed the car into reverse and then clobbered me as he was trying to back into a parking spot. He did not check behind him at all and there was no blind spot as I could see all 3 of his mirrors. His response was that I should have honked - mine to him was that I did not think anyone could be so stupid as to do what he did. Thankfully there was no one harmed and his insurance fully paid for the $2k in damage that he did.

    So, backup cameras are just fine, but only a band-aid. Honestly I think the sensors that beep when there is something in the way would be a better option - they are idiot proof where a backup camera is not.
     
  11. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Solutions that prevent idiots from driving will leave a LOT of pedestrians, including those who would have to make such a law. So that will never pass.
     
  12. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I have to admit I'm surprised by these numbers " Two children die and about 50 are injured every week.". I wouldn't of thought the numbers would be that high.

    I have nothing against this happening. Since it's becoming more and more basic that almost all entertainment systems come with a touch screen, I'm thinking the eventual addition of a back-up camera won't really be that costly of an upgrade.

    How many cell phones have camera's...the technology of small sized camera's is common and relatively inexpensive.

    I generally always side with if it can save lives it's good.

    I agree also though that back-up sensors in conjunction might actually be a better idea. If someone is in a hurry? Angry or in general not paying attention? They can ignore a back-up camera, and the sad reality might become the Back-Up camera just gives them a belated view of what they just hit.

    But overall....I salute this victory for Bob Wilson.
     
  13. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Not sure I think this is a great idea...a backup sensor seems just as effective and much less expensive to install for lower end cars.
     
  14. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I agree...but why not both?

    And given we now throw small camera's on everything. I'm guessing if the entire auto industry acccepted back-up camera's as a standard, the cost would be minimal.

    I don't think we are that far from almost every car having some type of screen...all you have to do is tie in the camera.

    The estimate might be upwards of $200 dollars a vehicle, but I'd bet that would fall, as vendors competed for contracts with major automakers.
     
  15. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    My CTh has a little screen embedded in the rear view mirror that displays the rear camera. It works great, and even retail costs a lot less than $200.
     
  16. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I threw the $200 dollar amount out based on this passage in the article.

    "However, in a preliminary version circulated for public comment, regulators predicted that adding the cameras and viewing screens will cost the auto industry as much as $2.7 billion a year, or $160 to $200 a vehicle. At least some of the cost is expected to be passed on to consumers through higher prices."

    But I totally agree. The technology already exists, and I think those numbers are high.
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    One thing, I find it hard to trust what I see with our back up camera: the field-of-view is extremely wide. If you're parallel parking for example, a car that looks to be 6~10 feet back is more likely about 2 feet back.
     
  18. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    It's a option, that should have really been made a standard!
    Bob, is a wizzard, and I miss his posts. I now have to travel to other exotic websites to survey his writings!!!
     
  19. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Oh come now, talk about exaggeration! It will "cost the auto industry" NOTHING! They will make money hand over fist on it. EVERYTHING they put in a car the buyer pays for and the manufacturer makes more than 10% off it. As long as every car sold has to have it there is NO IMPACT on the industry!

    And yes, I miss Bob. Even if I had trouble understanding his graphs. ;)
     
  20. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i cannot say that i know a lot of people especially "offline" people. but i know two couples whose lives were destroyed by the accidental death of their child.

    one can never know how life would turn out if not for certain events but of the 4 people involved. 2 have moved on (haven't seen one in 10 years but she married, moved to FL and was doing good at last word) , one is single, going from one short term relationship to another having gone on for at least 10 years (have not had much contact with her in a good 5-6 years) and another has spiraled all the way down getting into big time trouble with the law.

    i ran into him about a year ago when he had just gotten out of prison for scamming an old couple out of some money and he was in terrible shape. still talked about his Son constantly (he died at the age of 4 in 1993) and so on. it was heartbreaking. he was a very talented mechanic who had his own business out of his home.

    he probably had over $100,000 in tools and equipment and had way more work than he could handle. they always had money and the wife was the bookkeeper so his income was the only income. they had everything and just gave up.